Jason Wilcox at Stamford Bridge
Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images
Jason Wilcox has been involved in two managerial appointments at Manchester United since arriving at the club in April 2024. It has emerged that one of the names he suggested for the job was Russell Martin.
If you listen to the chants Manchester United fans have been singing in recent weeks, you will quickly realise Jason Wilcox isn’t popular. The same applies to the Glazers, Jim Ratcliffe, or United’s chief executive Omar Berrada.
There is a feeling among fans that Michael Carrick wasn’t backed sufficiently in the summer because United lacked cover in key positions. Luke Shaw has little to no competition at left-back, with Harry Amass regularly overlooked in his absence, while Benjamin Sesko’s long-term injury means there is no recognised centre-forward available in the squad right now.
Football director Wilcox must take responsibility for that, as well as the fact that his role in previous managerial appointments warrants questioning. Fresh reports about one of his managerial suggestions are only going to lead to more scrutiny over his position at the club.
Jason Wilcox made Russell Martin suggestion at Man Utd
A year on from an abysmal spell at Rangers, Russell Martin finds himself under pressure at League One outfit Leicester City. They are sitting 10th in the league table. It’s hard to believe that he was once suggested as an option for United to consider.
Martin’s managerial career hasn’t always been doom and gloom. He joined Southampton in 2023 and led them to promotion to the Premier League after winning the play-offs. Struggles in the top flight saw Martin dismissed in December 2024.
However, The Athletic claims that at the height of Martin’s success at Southampton, he was talked about as United chiefs considered their next move in May 2024, before giving Erik ten Hag a new deal following his FA Cup triumph over Man City at Wembley.
Wilcox, who appointed Martin at Southampton, ‘spoke highly’ of the coach but didn’t view him as a viable option at the time. Still, it was suggested that United should keep an eye on the coach with a nod to the future.
It hasn’t been a good two years for Martin. He hasn’t kicked on as Wilcox thought, and these reports have not gone down well with United fans via TalkingPoints. Many have argued that it is further proof that he is out of his depth at Old Trafford.
This will only cause more concern about the club’s next move should they eventually decide to sack Carrick following a shocking start to the season. United have won just two of their first 13 matches of the season across all competitions.